May 11, 2004

Dear Sir,

Listening to the talk shows I am shocked at the deafening silence and denial from members of the PLP when their people sitting in Parliament make so many bad and disastrous decisions that hurts and affect the whole Island.

Sad.

May 3, 2004

Dear Sir,

I was pleased to see coverage in of the recent SPCA Expo held at the Botanical Gardens on Saturday, April 25. The services the SPCA provides the Bermuda community is, to say the least, a very valuable one.

During the Expo, there was a dog parade comprising of adopted dogs. My dog, Peeper, was included in that parade and following the event a reporter questioned me on it and on my pet. It was, however, incorrectly stated in the paper (copy attached) that I had "nursed Peeper back to health" when in fact it was the SPCA shelter and Ettrick Animal Hospital that did the nursing. Animals, to my understanding, are not released unless they are in good health. While this may not warrant a correction in the newspaper, I felt it only right to correct this matter by way of this letter.

I would also like to take this opportunity to encourage to do regular featured articles on the SPCA and the fine work they do. Their challenges are many and the Bermudian community needs to be encouraged to do more to assist them in their efforts.

In addition, I would also like to recommend a weekly or monthly item on pet care. I'm sure the animal hospitals on the Island would be more than pleased to provide you with information.

Thank you again for covering the SPCA Expo and other important events held in Bermuda.

DOREEN BLEE

May 17, 2004

Dear Sir,

I would ask Mrs. DeSilva of Customs and Mr. Azhar of Immigration a simple question: If their "officials" are treating arriving passengers with "their customary professionalism and politeness", why is it that SO MANY PEOPLE COMPLAIN?

K. FINSNESS

City of Hamilton

May 12, 2004

Dear Sir,

In his continuing tirade against anyone who dares to object to a referendum to determine whether or not Bermuda should seek Independence, Mr. Cracknell makes this very, very erroneous declaration.

"Remember that most referendums require a 75 percent majority in favour rather than a 52 percent popular vote as at the last election. What an emphatic way of saying yes if 75 percent of the voters said "yes"".

Unfortunately for you, Mr. Cracknell, the yes vote can be obtained by an even smaller voting percentage than was the case for the General Election.

The only legislation on record dealing with a referendum is "The Independence Referendum Act 1995". Section 2, subsection (5) of this Act states:

(5) The question specified in subsection (1) will not have been answered by the referendum in favour of Independence for Bermuda unless-

(a) forty per centum or more of those entitled under subsection (3) to vote in the referendum vote in the referendum in favour of Independence for Bermuda; and

(b) the number of persons voting in the referendum in favour of Independence for Bermuda constitutes a majority of persons voting in the referendum. Clearly there is nothing in the existing Referendum Act that requires 75 per centum of the persons voting in a referendum to say yes to Independence in order for the vote to be binding on the government of the day.

In fact, if a referendum were to be held tomorrow, as few as 7,878 voters out of the 39,381 that are currently eligible to vote could take Bermuda into Independence. This is a mere 20 percent of the eligible voter population.

CALVIN J. M. SMITH

Pembroke

May 7, 2004

Dear Sir,

As a frequent visitor to Bermuda by air and ship, I read and enjoy daily your newspaper, travel around the Island by bus and ferry, and meet relatives and friends to discuss events current and past.

I am happy to read and hear open and honest discussion of Government policies, social conditions, business activities, cultural projects and health and education developments. Long may the airing of positive opinions prevail! Would that some other countries take note and perhaps copy such democratic behaviour. I hope Bermudians continue to deliberate equitably on all issues and to enjoy their high standard of living ? to be envied world wide.

However, one small quibble. Previously, before departing, one could visit shops such as Friths, Burrows, Lightbourne, Goslings, etc. and order a selection of duty-free spirits to be delivered to and picked up at the Airport. Now, duty-free shopping for tobacco and liquor can be done only at the Airport shop where the selection is quite limited and where a preponderance of Gosling Black Rum displays overwhelms the departing tourist! Is this a monopoly?

Ports in the Caribbean offer a more extensive selection, competitive pricing and favourable savings. Maybe Bermuda can return to this more convenient and tourist-friendly method?

HARRY ATKINSON

New York

May 6, 2004

Dear Sir,

I have seen first hand what Bermudian applicants have to go through when applying for positions within the Bermuda Government. The majority of the Bermudian applicants who receive rejection letters from the Department of Human Resources for whatever reason are often more qualified and knowledgeable than the selected expatriate applicant. The expatriate disguises their incompetence by forming little teams to brainstorm and use the ideas of the so-called unsuitable Bermudians. They should bring their own ideas to the table, especially when they are deemed to be the better candidate. The Bermudians should learn something form them, not the reverse.

With regard to the hiring of Mr. Abdullah Ahad at the Bermuda College, if the selection committee spent less time scrutinising the Bermudian applicant, and a little more time researching the background of the expats who they know little or nothing about, this would be less likely to happen.

It appears that if you do not have the right connections or have not mastered the art of deception, then your efforts will be fruitless.

There have been many Bermudians who have spent considerable years legitimately obtaining their credentials, only to be disappointed when they apply for certain positions within the Bermuda Government. They produce the evidence of their accomplishments, but it still doesn't suffice.

To add insult to injury, when the Bermudian applicants fulfil all the educational and experience requirements, another hurdle is created, i.e. an assessment test which is just a smoke screen. On the other hand, the expatriate applicants are just interviewed, probably only once. How can you tell someone who does an assessment test with no instructions that they failed when they were never informed before taking it, that it was a pass/fail test? The Bermudian applicants are obviously being set up to fail, to allow an expatriate or chosen candidate to be successful.

According to the Bermuda Sun article on May 5, regarding Mr. Abdullah Ahad 's credentials, it appears that the expats' credentials are not checked, they get accepted, and receive a high salary.

In my opinion, the persons which include members of the Public Service Commission, responsible for selecting the successful applicants, should all be fired, together with Mr. Abdullah Ahad.

If you are an honest, educated Bermudian trying to climb the ladder of success, you don't get very far. Bermuda is too small and it only takes one individual to assassinate your character, and it soon becomes contagious.

The expat isn't subjected to this scrutiny, even when the information provided is bogus. It is, obviously, not verified, yet the Bermudian is scrutinised at various levels. How many more of these cases exist within the Bermuda Government?

My suggestion is that a new Investigations Department (independent of the Bermuda Police Service), be formed to eradicate the hiring infractions and theft that we have seen exposed in the last few weeks. At the moment, who verifies the information provided by the foreign applicants? Is the Immigration Department responsible for these checks or do they refer the names to the Police Department for criminal checks only? What is the function of the Head of the Department? Shouldn't this person be held accountable for not detecting these infringements sooner?

The Bermuda Government needs to educate their servants and make amends by attempting to instil in the minds of the Bermudian that 'honesty is the best policy'.

May 18, 2004

Dear Sir,

Mandy Wong is correct by referring to some of the inaccuracies found in our local media. Also in the Bermuda Tapestry supplement on page 13, I saw that part of my family, the Hassell name, was spelled incorrectly and listed under the Dutch West Indies, which is considered correct. However, the rest of my family which includes the Johnson and Sagur names, were listed under Saba, as if they were not part of the Dutch West Indies. St. Eustatius, the sister Island which is near by, was also treated accordingly, as if it was a non Dutch Island. I saw that the Every name was not included in the list of names. Bermuda has very strong roots in the Caribbean, and my daughters and I are very proud of our intercultural heritage.

I am sure that there are many Bermudian families who feel the same about their own heritage, and therefore they would like to see accurate information in the future, regarding their ancestry.

May 10, 2004

Dear Sir,

I would be very grateful if you could publish this letter. My parents lived in Bermuda for a while in the 1950s whilst my father was in the army. It seems an amazing coincidence that one of their bridesmaids also moved to the Island.

My parents, Len and Thelma Dyke, were married in Taunton in October, 1954. One of their bridesmaids subsequently moved to Bermuda and contact has since been lost. With their golden wedding rapidly approaching they would love to hear from her again. Unfortunately I don't have very much information about her.

She was a district nurse called Ann Montague (?) who was raised in Langford Budville in Somerset, trained in Birmingham and worked in the Clent hills area. She moved to Bermuda in the late 1960s, where she married.

KEN DYKE

9 Woodville Road

Nottingham, England NG5 2JS